Getting to Know Oahu

One of the eight major islands that make up the State of Hawaii, Oahu is home to about 900,000 people, or 75 percent of the resident population of the state. El Hub’s parents live in the smallish town of Kaneohe, which is located on the eastern side of the island.

When you’re talking about Hawaii, you’re not talking about a large area. Each of the islands is small by Mainland standards. For the locals, driving from one end of Oahu to the other represents a HUGE trip. For them it is, but in reality the farthest distance one could drive in a straight line without plowing into the sea is never more than 44 miles (71 km).

Many visitors to Oahu arrive expecting a deserted, quiet tropical island with beaches as far as the eye can see, and some leave the island disappointed after their trip because Oahu bustles with activity (and shopping!). While it does have the snowy white beaches, mountain hikes, secluded waterfalls, beautiful flowers and warm climate that come with life in the tropics, it’s also home to almost a million people, ethnically diverse and busy with their own lives.

The people are what make Hawaii so special. It’s one of the most racially diverse yet ethnically integrated places in America and is the only state in the union in which people of Polynesian and Asian descent outnumber all other demographic groups.

Maui Babe Browning Lotion – I’ve never used this to tan because I was brown when the stork delivered me, but I have heard from other girls that this stuff creates a lovely, rich tan.

Hawaiian Bath and Body – These handcrafted soaps and body product are made on the North Shore of Oahu (Hawaii’s surf capital). I love the North Shore for its natural beauty and because it’s also where El Hub and I got hitched.

Maleana Wedding Cosmetics – Dorys Foltin, a makeup artist on Oahu, created this line of fabulous makeup. Dorys did my wedding makeup two years ago and used her products on me to create a natural look with gold eyes, pink cheeks and pink lips. If you or anyone you know decides to get hitched on Oahu, book Dorys because she’s super nice and has major makeup game.

Some of the most heavily represented groups in Hawaii are Hawaiians, Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Puerto Ricans. El Hub’s great grandparents came to Hawaii from Portugal in the early 1900s to work in the sugar cane and pineapple fields alongside other people who’d emigrated from their home countries.

Over the years of people living in such close proximity to each other, cultures blended, families joined and the Hawaii of today emerged, a Hawaii in which people of mixed Hawaiian-Chinese-Filipino-Portuguese descent eat sushi for dinner, listen to country music and shop at Wal-Mart on weekends.

Over the next week you’ll see a lot of really strange and interesting pictures on this blog, pictures of Oahu, one of my favorite places in the world. I hope you like it, too.

Yay for Kaneohe! I miss my home on the beautiful Windward side, but hey the Bay Area isn’t so bad either! Boo to showing Oahu bc its going to make me homesick! I remember how I HATED to drive for more than 15 miles because it was far, but now 15 miles is nothing here. LOL.
In your last picture, is that a picture of Kaneohe Bay? If so, from what spot did you take it?

Thank you so much for that mini-vacay! Just looking at those pics took me back to my honeymoon and my 24 hours on Oahu (en route to Australia). We had an amazing 24 though, ate, shopped, and I made a special point of taking off my shoes to walk barefoot along Waikiki Beach! 🙂

I love your blog, it makes me smile every time. Plus I learn a lot about makeup from your mad skills. Kaneohe is where we vacation every year with my relatives who reside there. My absolute favorite beach is Kailua, far away from the crowds, just with the locals. 180 degrees of uninterrupted sand. Enjoy!

Hi Krystle,It’s funny how driving
15 minutes on the mainland takes to the nearest grocery store, but on Oahu 15 minutes that’ll take you halfway across the island.Yup, that pic is of Kaneohe Bay! When we land I’ll eat a leonard’s malasada for you!

Aloha, Glosslizard! The cutest thing happened before we left at the crack of dawn this morning. Tabs came to the door to say goodbye. It was so cute! He sat at the top of the stairs and watched us as we drove away! I almost got a lil teary (so CCL)!

hey Karen!
I’ve only been to Hawaii once, for my honeymoon. We went to Oahu first then Maui. We only had 2 days on Oahu, but I feel in love with Sunset Beach–on the north shore. It was summer so it didn’t have the huge waves, but it had the best sand! Have a fantastic trip, I will look forward to having a virtual vacation with ya.

What is Zia’s? Now I have to Google it. We had a great meal at Lucy’s, also love Buzz’s for a treat. And this fun place for breakfast – Cinnamon’s. Love fresh fish, rice and eggs for breakfast! Fuel for the beach. Thanks for the tip on Zia’s. have a great holiday.

I’m so jealous!!! I was suppose to go in May but for unforseen circumstances…we had to postpone our trip. My family lives on the Waipahu side….great granddad is buried in Pearl Bowl. Enjoy your trip you lucky gal!!!! Although it won’t be the same since I’m here in the bay….I think I”m gonna make me a Mai Tai now…..:)

It’s raining a bit here where we are too – just a lil’ bit of drizzle. The part of the island where my family lives is the rainy side, but it’s still nice because it’s very warm and the rain is kinda refreshing.

It’s a cafe in Kailua. They have pasta and stuff there; my in-laws love it! My favorite place for breakfast is Boot’s & Kimo’s! The macadamia nut pancakes are to die for! (My stomach just rumbled, LOL).

Once again my plans are studying… lol Pretty boring eh.
But I have my last really study-exam on Monday so after that I’ll be able to tell you sth more interesting 😉
Like seducing a certain Spaniard… lol Just kidding.

Hope you’re having a blast over there, which I’m sure you are. I have that Maui Babe Browning Lotion. It smells awesome! I should try using that again because my legs are the hardest part of my body to tan. Can’t wait to see more pics from your trip! 🙂

Hi Karen!
LOVE YOUR BLOG! Long time reader, first time comment-er. ;]
Very cool to see that you’re flying out here! Have fun and can’t wait to read upcoming entries! =]
*Be sure to make it to the BE-YOOO-TIFUL Lanikai Beach!

OOPS, sorry. I guess I should clarify! LOL We got married in the park overlooking Diamond Head. The wedding coordinator I used doesn’t allow weddings in the park anymore. She also found Dorys for me…Dorys was really very sweet. Going to check out her new line. How long has her line been out??

My husband and I were long-distance for the first three months together. He knew of my love for lighthouses, so he sent me a model of Diamond Head. Since we didn’t know where we wanted to tie the knot, I suggested Hawaii. Needless to say, he was game! 🙂

How cool! I wonder if a parade is a secret sign of luck…we were having breakfast when one was going by on our wedding day! It was the only parade we’d ever seen where the fire truck had a surfboard on it. LOL Hubby and I met through a former neighbor of his. The former neighbor happened to be my roommate.

Are your in-laws in Turtle Bay?? We wanted to get down that way (and Ko Olina) but never made it.

Oh yeah! The one we saw had a fire truck with a surfboard on it, too. All the Hawaii ones have ’em, I believe. I wrote a story about a year ago where I had to interview this guy who was a Hawaii fireman who also owned and operated a surf school. All the instructors were firemen, lifeguards, and EMTs! I vaguely recall him telling me most (or all?) firemen also have to be lifeguard certified…

That’s cool that you met your sweetie through a friend. I’ve read that is usually the best way to meet someone.

My in-laws are on the Windward (east) side, which is about 20-30 minutes south of Turtle Bay. Ko Olina is very pretty (my parents have a timeshare there — it’s on the west side), too. Next time you visit the island (maybe to celebrate an anniversary?) you should definitely visit both places. The North Shore is just so beautiful and I one of the best places to go on Oahu.